Morning arrived like a held breath.
Jay woke early. Heart pounding. She didn't know why.
Something's happening today.
She dressed. Went downstairs.
The Fernandez house was already awake.
Tita Gema: "BREAKFAST! EAT! YOU'LL NEED ENERGY!"
Jay: "For what?"
Tita Gema: "I DON'T KNOW! BUT ENERGY IS ALWAYS GOOD!"
Jasfer: "She's not wrong."
Serina: "Good morning, anak."
Jay: "Morning, Mom."
Serina's smile was knowing. Too knowing.
Jay: "What?"
Serina: "Nothing."
Jay: "Mom."
Serina: "Just enjoy today."
Percy was in the living room. Camera ready.
Percy: "JAY! GOOD MORNING! YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL! DOCUMENTING!"
Jay: "Percy, it's 7 AM."
Percy: "HISTORY DOESN'T SLEEP!"
Honey: "He's been like this since 5."
Jay: "5 AM?"
Honey: "He couldn't sleep."
Percy: "JAYFER SENSE WAS TINGLING!"
Jay: "You don't have Jayfer sense."
Percy: "I DO TODAY!"
Angelo stood near the door. Coffee in hand. Watching.
Angelo: "Morning."
Jay: "Morning, Kuya Angelo."
Angelo: "You look nervous."
Jay: "I'm not nervous."
Angelo: "Liar."
Jay: "Maybe."
Angelo almost smiled. "Whatever happens today, I'm watching."
Jay: "Always?"
Angelo: "Always."
Aries came down. Ella behind him.
Aries: "You're up early."
Jay: "So are you."
Aries: "Couldn't sleep."
Ella: "He was tossing all night."
Aries: "I was not."
Ella: "You were."
Aries: "Tss."
Ella: "Did you just—"
Aries: "No."
Ella: "You definitely did."
Aries: "I hate you."
Ella: "No, you don't."
Aries: "No, I don't."
Section E started arriving.
Ci-n burst through the door. "TODAY'S THE DAY! I CAN FEEL IT!"
Rakki: "Feel what?"
Ci-n: "SOMETHING! BIG! JAYFER RELATED!"
Percy: "SAME! DOCUMENTING TEAM ASSEMBLE!"
Ci-n: "ASSEMBLED!"
They high-fived.
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Never change."
Mica and Calix came in. Mica: "We heard there might be news?"
Calix: "We brought snacks. Just in case."
Freya and Edrix walked in. Freya: "This feels dramatic."
Edrix: "This feels intentional."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Rory: "I've calculated a 90% probability of a major event today."
Drew: "I'm taking bets on what it is."
David: "Proposal. 500."
Drew: "Bold."
Eren arrived with a bird. "This is Kevin the Third. He's here for support."
Josh nodded. Offered the bird a seat.
Baster hummed an anticipatory melody.
Jay's grandma rocked in her chair. "SOMETHING'S HAPPENING! I CAN FEEL IT IN MY BONES!"
Keigan: "Lola, your bones are old."
Jay's grandma: "OLD BONES KNOW THINGS!"
Keiren: "What things?"
Jay's grandma: "IMPORTANT THINGS!"
Grazel Jay ran around with flowers. "TODAY IS FLOWER DAY! I HAVE MANY FLOWERS!"
Denzel: "She's been saving them."
Grace: "All week."
Grazel Jay: "FOR TODAY!"
Jay stood in the middle of the chaos.
Everyone watching. Everyone waiting.
For what?
The door opened.
Keifer walked in.
He saw Jay. Smiled. That smile.
Keifer: "Hey."
Jay: "Hey."
Keifer: "Ready?"
Jay: "For what?"
Keifer: "Everything."